Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Ivy League Heps
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Bird Leads Women's Cross Country to Ivy Heps Title
October 30, 2015 | Women's Cross Country
Results
BRONX, N.Y. (10/30/15) - Junior Lizzie Bird won the individual title and helped the Princeton women's cross country team to first place at the 2015 Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championship this afternoon in Van Cortlandt Park.
The Tigers, ranked No. 20 in the national poll, scored 60 points with three runners in the top 10, and was 23 points ahead of second-place Yale.
Bird is the seventh Princeton Tiger to win the individual race, and the second straight. Megan Curham won the race last year as Princeton took second. Other Tigers winning the title include: Alex Banfich in 2010, Liz Costello in 2009, 2008, 2007, Emily Kroshus in 2003, Laura Cattivera in 1987 and Lynn Jennings in 1979.
"The aim was to win, but I was planning on just sticking with the front group and then kicking at the end," Bird said post-race. "But I felt really good at the back hills. This is what we wanted coming in. I'm so happy. The team winning is greater than me winning."
"Going down the home straight? I was terrified. I was like 'I think I've gone to soon. I should have waited until the end to kick, what if she catches up with me now that would be terrible. But I was just like 'run as fast as you can, you're nearly there."
Bird finished the 6k course in 20:47.4 and cleared the finish line with a healthy gap between the rest of the competition. It was nearly eight seconds later when the second- and third-place finishers followed. Senior Emily de La Bruyere was fourth at 21:08.8 and senior Kathryn Fluehr was sixth at 21:24.6. Bird, de La Bruyere and Fluehr all earn first-team All-Ivy League honors for their finishes. The final two Princeton scorers were freshman Brighie Leach and senior Kathryn Little. Leach ran 22:00.1 to take 19th, while Little ran 22:14.1 to take 30th.
It's place that certainly has treated Princeton well, as Van Cortlandt Park has been home seven of Princeton's nine Ivy League championships. The Tigers won here in 1980 before a streak of five straight titles from 2006-10. It was on this course that Princeton made history in 2009 with a perfect score, going 1-2-3-4-5. (Princeton's first two titles came in 1978 in Ithaca and 1979 in Philadelphia).
Princeton Finishers1. Lizzie Bird 20:47.4
4. Emily de La Bruyere 21:08.8
6. Kathryn Fluehr 21:24.6
19. Brighie Leach 22:00.1
30. Kathryn Little 22:14.1
33. Melinda Renuart 22:17.8
47. Ally Markovich 22:37.2
53. Allie Klimkiewicz 22:44.6
68. Natalie Rathjen 23:05.0
83. Birdie Hutton 23:42.2
88. Mallory Edens 24:12.0
89. Taylor Bacon 24:21.4